APGA seeks policy reforms from Buhari in 2017

January 2, 2017

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has reinstated its commitment to support people oriented policies just as it urged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on policy reforms for government to record remarkable success in 2017.

This was contained in a new year message issued by the party’s National Director of Publicity, Ifeanacho Oguejiofor.

The party expressed optimism that 2017 was full of hopes for the economy and urged Nigerians to show care, love and engage each other in activities that will promote peace, common good and general interest of the country just as it called on politicians to be altruistic and sensitive to the sufferings and needs of the people in order to extenuate the unacceptable harsh economic cum social conditions Nigerians are subjected to at present.

APGA raised concerns at the lopsided manner the present administration is handling some of her activities like the war against corruption, electrons processes, the Niger Delta amnesty programme, the agitations from the Independent People of Birthday (IPOB), the farmers and herdsmen clashes among others.

“This approach has to be really changed if the APC government is to turn round the faltering and depressing economy.

“While there is improvement in the war against Boko Haram, new theatres are opening in the South East and South South mostly as a result of the government’s poor handling of the hitherto minor agitations. The party calls on the government to use practical approaches that are less confrontational to resolve the issues.

“The development in the Niger Delta region calls for concern. The Federal Government must find constructive ways of engagement and resolution of the issues that gave rise to the recent upsurge in militancy. If disruption of oil supplies continues in this 2017, the economy of the country will be crippled and Nigerians especially the less privileged will be the worse for it than it experienced in the preceding year.

“The party also condemns the activities of the herdsmen that do not seem to get the level of attention that groups like IPOB get from the federal government and calls on the security agencies to be up and doing and proactive.

“APGA advises the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to be mindful of the poor and negative public perception of its electoral activities, and to start conducting it electoral affairs as its name implies and the statute that established it stipulates, instead of the present bizarre and shenanigans of manipulation of vote and allocation of scores, as the party witnessed during the Bye-election of the Toto/Nassarawa federal constituency, in Nassarawa state, and the last Edo State governorship election. The body should stop its officials from conniving with some unscrupulous Politicians and law enforcement Personnel on election duties from writing false election results. Also, it should guide against the body’s seemingly general disposition as if it were a department of the ruling party; the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The commission should note that any act that undermines an electoral process or an election, no matter how infinitesimal or minute it may be, will ultimately affects the outcome and undermines our democracy. Therefore, INEC should be transparent as well as provide a level playing field while dealing with political parties and their candidates,” Oguejiofor stated.

The party reassures Nigerians that 2017 holds great hope just as it planned to remain in solidarity with the people in their quest for a decent livelihood and aspiration for a just society that is devoid of the present mass hunger and economic deprivation.